ANGRY WITH GOD?
“ANGRY WITH GOD?” - JONAH 4
INTRO: We all have times where we get angry, frustrated, distraught with life. Life is hard.
Have you ever been angry with God? “UNFAIR”, “UNJUST”, “HOW COULD YOU…”
When we throw our tantrums, He doesn’t kick us out of the family… works on us/ with us – patiently reasoning, lovingly disciplining, graciously teaching us.
* Ninevah has repented; God has relented…. Jonah is frustrated.
JONAH’S TEMPER TANTRUM: (V.1-4)
DISPLEASED, DISCOURAGED, & DISPLACED: (V.1-3)
displeased exceedingly = (“vexed, irritated, spoiled toward, “it was evil for Jonah”)
He could not come to grips with God on this issue (forgiveness for enemies: Ninevah destroyed his family/people, hurts run deep… cried out their wickedness, cried out Your doom, JUDGE THEM!!)
* There is a sinful part of us that resists the display of grace & mercy to anyone we don’t think worthy! Jonah has a mistaken patriotism – idolizing own people above God’s heart.
“angry” = “to glow or grow warm” (Hot Head about to blow his top!)
*Anger was not directed toward Ninevah’s response, but toward God’s release. (brother in prodigal son story: angry at Father’s grace toward the lost son returning– Luke 15:27
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(2) In his anger he prays (different heart than one in belly). He complains to God about God’s character as if there is a flaw in God’s nature.
- Jonah was angry, not because he didn’t understand God’s ways (knew God’s character, experienced personally)…He didn’t like God’s ways! Didn’t want enemies experiencing God… whole reason he fled! He is discouraged with God…
*How do you respond when God blesses your enemies? When unrighteous people do the right thing? (show, fake, hypocrite… just watch…)
*God’s mercy toward others is not based on what I think. Doesn’t consult me.
5 things I KNOW: 1) gracious – getting what’s not deserved (forgiveness) 2) merciful – not getting what’s deserved (punishment) 3) slow to anger – patient, (delayed judgment) 4) abundant in lovingkindness – aspect of favor granted 5) relents from harm – turns from wrath to grace.
problem is not with God, but with us… God chose Jonah for this mission because He wanted to deal with an area in Jonah’s character. How about you?
Jonah is displaced…”better for me to die than watch my enemies be forgiven!”
earlier saw life gone, saw grace & mercy personally, now different…lost focus, reason.
Note 2 things: 1) Jonah’s honesty with God…not hiding feelings. Ministers of God – real men!
- the key is to know where to go (God); air out your heart and then don’t leave…listen, learn, love.
Hab. 2:1 I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.
2) Even believers despair of life:
1 Kings 19:4 (Elijah – running from Jezebel’s threat on his life) But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I [am] no better than my fathers!”
Job 6:8-9 (Job – circumstances) “Oh, that I might have my request, That God would grant [me] the thing that I long for! That it would please God to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off!
2 Cor. 1:8-11 (Paul – trials/ ministry) For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver [us], you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift [granted] to us through many.
DIRECT QUESTION TO JONAH: (V.4)
“Is it right…”
God’s question is not condemning, but searching… get him to see own heart. (hard heart = no blessing) (1st mention of anger in Bible – at God…)
Gen. 4:6-7 (Cain) So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire [is] for you, but you should rule over it.” (God reasons, by questions to get man to see his own failure…)
*Is there such thing as righteous anger? YES!
(ex. Jesus @ temple – zeal for Your house…angry at sin)
Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.
It is right to be upset at sin…but don’t let it lead you to sin…don’t give the enemy a place with the issue
Romans 12:17-21 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but [rather] give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance [is Mine, I will repay],” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Release to the Lord the issue…released by the Lord to bless.
James 1:19-20 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
How do I know when my anger is justifiable?
Is it about me and my rights or His glory? 2) Is it over sin or just personal preferences? 3) What is the fruit of my anger?
GOD’S TEACHING TOOLS: (V. 5-11)
THE PLANT LESSON: (V.5-8)
40 days past…out of city…builds a shelter to shade himself to watch the show
- doesn’t even want to see their faces…
- that shelter would become a “school of discipline”
prepared a plant: “prepared” (appointed, ordered – 4x in Jonah)
- From whales to worms to winds…God is in control teaching us through His tools. (plant pic)
(Hb) “kikaion” (palma Christi) Grows up to 39ft. tall, 18” leaves like a vine, quick growth – hallow stalk, fruit – spiney green capsules – castor oil.
- plant is a miracle (1 day came up – v. 10) shaded Jonah from sun’s heat…comfort Jonah in his misery (from inner conflict).
* God’s GRACE /provisions – cares for us even when we are angry at Him! What love!
“Jonah was very grateful” …self-oriented, self-absorbed.
**Be careful that your thankfulness is not self-oriented… only for good things with ME.
(7) prepared a worm: (maggot)
- bit the root, sucked the moisture, useless, withered….brought death.
- Physical illustration to Jonah… bitten & being ruined by anger… missing My Grace!
Heb.12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
(8) prepared a vehement wind: desert sandstorms (blowing away the dead plant/shade, burning Jonah…uncomfortably hot!)
- Once again Jonah is lost in perspective… wishes death. Before it was God’s way with others, now it’s God’s way with him – personal comforts effected.
THE PITY APPLICATION: (V. 9-11)
(9) questions again…is it right? (persistent, patient, loving)
* God brings the plants (comforts us in our situation…providing His grace), brings the worms (discomforts us…eating up our security), brings the wind (trials to beat on us) to see if our hearts will turn to Him or from Him. Will we lift our eyes up or bury our heads in the sand?
(10-11) Application:
Pity on plant (did nothing, no watering, no fertilizing) why mad? Are the material benefits of more concern to you than the souls of men?
(11) 120,000 infants. (common score 1/5 of total pop. = 600,000)
Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Ends book with a question on purpose: (searching of heart – “Is it right?” type)
Is it right that we receive God’s mercy, but don’t pass it to others?
God’s mercy to us should extend to others… (Matt. 18:23-33)
The lost world is His concern. Is it right that it is not MINE too?
Are we too focused on the “plants” that shade ME?…the worms that “bug” ME? The wind or sun that beat on ME? That we lose focus of eternity and the souls of men that need a Savior!